Transport Minister on Tempi disaster: "It’s no one’s fault, it was bad timing"

In a written statement, former transport minister Kostas Karamanlis “does not forget” the Tempi tragedy and believes he has freed himself from political responsibility by stepping down as minister.

The former transport minister made a provocative statement on the anniversary of the two-train collision in Tempe that killed 57 people. The man who, during the investigation into a train accident, blamed everything on human error and bad timing, angering relatives of the victims, spoke about “personal suffering” victims and stated about relatives that “They have always enjoyed and will enjoy our respect.”

A politician who blamed human error during an investigation, angering victims’ relatives, said “they have and will always have our respect”

A politician who was in charge of the railways at the time of the accident and, according to documents, was informed of tragic deficiencies and safety violationsbelieves that he has freed himself from responsibility, resigning as minister. “A sense of political responsibility forced me to immediately resign that day.”, says the man who, despite the indignation, stood as a candidate in the elections and was elected as a member of parliament. The full text of Kostas Karamanlis’ statement reads:

“A year later, the unspeakable tragedy in Tempe remains in the thoughts of all of us. My personal suffering and sense of political responsibility led me to resign that same day. However, my thoughts will never leave the 57 lives lost, injured and passengers who survived the tragedy, and, “of course, relatives of the victims. No one can feel the pain they experience; they have always enjoyed and will enjoy our respect.”

Kostas Karamanlis now continues to be a member of parliament from New Democracy. He was re-elected in the summer 2023 elections.

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